[New-Poetry] Time to write?

[millb at aol.com]

 I'll chime in too, on this topic.
 
As a non-academic writer, I find residencies important for my psyche.  Often, I have a specific project in mind when I start a residency, but, also often, is the fact that my project changes and morphs and that the most important take-away from a residency is friendship.  I think that writers and artists who teach college have more opportunities for socialization.  For me, Yaddo and Vermont Studio and Jentel offered me time to write and time to read. . . what is not readily apparent to me intially was the time to play Scrabble and interact with other writers and artists and musicians and not discuss craft.  
 
Those down times are the most powerful experieces for me at residencies.  
 
My day job is technical writing which is just about as far away from poetry and fiction as you can get and not be a banker or insurance salesman, so residenies are a welcome opportunity for me to recharge my creative juices. 
 
During the times when I am able to land a fellowship or a grant and actually take time off (at home), I find that it takes me awhile to get acclimated.  An average of one to two months is what it takes me to rebegin a writing habit full time (which is not say, not book-ended around an IT project).
 
Well, that's my two cents.
 
Mill
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